Rahul Tewatia scored 30 runs in one over after getting off to a slow start to leave the cricket fraternity in awe during the Rajasthan Royals’ record 224 Indian Premier League (IPL) chase against Kings XI Punjab in Sharjah on Sunday. Tewatia’s blindness RR past the end line in what is being regarded as one of the biggest comeback shots in the history of the sport.
Rajasthan Royals surprised quite a few with their decision to send to Rahul Tewatia in the 10th, ahead of his seasoned activist Robin Uthappa in the great manhunt. Steve Smith and Sanju Samson had given RR the much-needed early push after Jos Buttler’s impeachment.
However, Tewatia struggled to get the bat to the ball in the first 19 deliveries he faced. He was putting immense pressure on Sanju Samson, so much so that the goalie-hitter at one point denied him a single as early as the 16. When Samson came out with RR he still needed more than 60 in the final 4 overs, RR looked done and gone.
However, Tewatia turned him around. After taking 19 balls in his first 8 runs, Tewatia finished 31 of 53, a winning shot that left the cricket world in awe. Tewatia smashed 5 6s on Sheldon Cottrell’s 18 to turn it around and lead a successful chase that had seemed unlikely.
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Rahul Tewatia said he missed Sheldon Cottrell’s over, trying to hit 6 sixes, but later realized he could pull off the rare feat.
“No, I didn’t think I would be hitting 5 sixes on that switch. I later realized I could have hit 6 6s. But I missed it. However, I thought I should do as many runs as possible on that switch to get closer.” Tewatia told Rajasthan Royals.
“At first, I couldn’t hit the ball. I had been given a role and I was a bit pressured because I was given the role of targeting the leg spinners, I couldn’t do that,” Tewatia said.
How Sanju Samson and Robin Uthappa kept Rahul Tewatia motivated
No, I didn’t think I’d be hitting 5 6s on that change. Later I realized that it could have reached six sixes. But I missed it. However, I thought I should do as many runs as possible to get closer.
“Sanju and Robin bhai gave me confidence. I also had a belief that if I make a hit, I can get going. In Sharjah, I was thinking, even if we need 18-19 in the last 4 overs, we can get them.
“Sanju kept telling me when I was hitting with him that if I can get one then I can keep hitting them. He asked me not to panic. He’s a senior player in RR and he’s seen me over the years. He’s been telling me that he could. be the game changer for the team after seeing me on the networks.
“After Robin Bhai came, he gave me a lot of confidence. After I hit that six, he said, ‘Now keep hitting.’
